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Archie Rice
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 45
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 Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: What's the best way to build up your private classes? |
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I realise word of mouth is key, but arriving in a town with no contacts this is kind of tricky. I am thinking of printing off a load of flyers with a 'free first class, no commitment' offer, and handing them out in the street. I'm thinking that being able to engage with potential students face to face might be more effective than leaving flyers to gather dust in cafes etc.
Anyone have any thoughts on best way to build up private classes from scratch ? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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It is a BIG planet.
It depends a LOT on where you are (what country you are in) and what your status in the country is (illegal worker, working tourist (in those countries that offer that visa option), legal worker trying to pick up extra earnings/part-time work, citizen (able to work without restriction), etc).
ie:
-If you are in Korea, handing out flyers is a fast ticket to an immigration center - it is a violation of your status of sojourn. Word of mouth is the ONLY way to go.
-If you are Thailand and you are competing with the local language shop and you start passing out flyers you could end up with a nasty surprise instead of a student waiting for you in the cafe - look at the local job ads; there is no shortage of work.
-and the list goes on.
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Archie Rice
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for reply - to clarify, I am a celta qualified, experienced, EU citizen, native speaker moving to Spain shortly. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:33 am Post subject: Re: What's the best way to build up your private classes? |
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Some questions:
Would you be in or close to a major city, or in a small town/rural village?
Would you use your own curriculum, materials, and set lessons?
What age group are you targeting? Would you be teaching basic EFL or ESP?
Do you intend to teach privates as your only source of income? |
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Archie Rice
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Hi -
1) a major city - Valencia to be precise.
2) in terms of curriculum I would tailor each class to students need. I have two years solid teaching experience and am comfortable in a variety of areas.
3) adults preferably.
4) Ideally teaching privates solely, but will probably have to balance this with in school employment. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| Consider the season - if you are trying to attract clients in late July through August, you're likely doomed to failure - until September. |
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Archie Rice
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:48 am Post subject: |
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That's one of the reasons I'm focussing on privates right now. The schools will be winding down til sept, so even though it might not be great timing, the privates seem my best best for immediate work.
I intend to be very proactive in building up classes. Hopefully this will see me through the lull. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:51 am Post subject: |
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I think it would be VERY difficult to walk cold into a new place and rustle up enough privates to provide any degree of reliable income in July/August, but good luck. One idea might be to try focusing on students entering some university in September that will require them to use English....but where you'll find them in the summer is beyond me!
Gathering a reasonable portfolio of private students can really take months...you need local contacts, which you don't seem to have. Hopefully you've got other resources to get you through in case! |
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Dedicated
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 972
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Archie Rice,
I have to agree with spiral78. Are you aware that Spain has an overall jobless rate of 26.8% and there is 56% youth unemployment (ie. under 25 years old)?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22727373
In Valencia in particular, the rate of unemployment was up to 28.1% by the end of 2012, and friends there say that any job is chased by everybody.
https://ec.europa.eu/eures/main.jsp?lang=en&acro=lmi&cat
In these circumstances, I doubt there is much spare cash around for private lessons. |
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Archie Rice
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| That's grim reading, although anecdotedly at least, the tefl market seems to be holding up. With work being so hard to come by, applicants need to have a decent grasp of English to be successful, or so people have told me anyway... |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Archie Rice wrote: |
| With work being so hard to come by, applicants need to have a decent grasp of English to be successful, or so people have told me anyway... |
Sure, if they're contemplating working/living in a country where English is the official language or is widely spoken. However, given Spain's current economy, I doubt those Spanish nationals who are unemployed or underemployed in their home country have the funds to invest in long-term, English language lessons with the intent that improved language skills will boost their job prospects sometime in the very near future. (That differs from, say, investing money in a 4-week computer training course toward gaining skills that could be employed immediately.) And those nationals who can afford to leave head off to other countries for better employment and/or study opportunities.
By the way, be wary if you're only getting your info from those in the TEFL training (certificate) business. In fact, your statement sounds like it came from a TEFL course provider's sales pitch. It's also interesting to note that in the Cafe's Spain forum, your questions as well as similar inquiries from others related to Spain's job market are getting minimal, if any, responses, which is probably why you decided to post on this forum.
As others have pointed out, with Spanish unemployment hovering around 27%, you're best to keep your job expectations low and have enough finances to fall back on for several months. An exit plan is also a smart idea if things don't work out. Better yet, skip Spain and consider other countries with more opportunities for TEFL. That may mean boosting your qualifications to stay competitive in the TEFL market. |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Private teaching falls in line with the schools and most of your work heats up around exam time. July/August is very difficult, even when you are established! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:09 am Post subject: |
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| Country-specific. The way to do it in Riyadh is not the same as Rio. |
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sager
Joined: 26 Dec 2012
Posts: 35
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Unlike in the rest of the EU, not including the Baltic states, German unemployment among the youth is in fact decreasing.
No wonder language schools in Germany are being inundated with requests for German classes from young Greeks, Italians and Spaniards.
sager |
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